Orioles notes: Markakis hopes to swing Friday; return next week

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis, who had surgery June 1 for a broken hamate bone in his right wrist, said he is listening to medical orders and will not swing a bat until he gets back to Baltimore on Friday, which will mark the three-week mark.

"My two week idea is out the window, but I've realized, just talking to the trainers, we don't want to push it. I'd rather be back the rest of the season than have a setback," said Markakis, who has never been on the disabled list in his career. "So we'll take it slowly. We'll give it four or five more days to let it heal up. Get some treatment, hopefully pick up a bat on Friday and see how it goes through the weekend and hopefully have a short rehab stint and get back up here."

Markakis would prefer not going on a rehab assignment, but said he understands its value.

"I guess for myself, the benefits of it, would probably be smart," he said. "But you never know. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully, Aberdeen is at home when it is time to rehab."

Short-season Class A Aberdeen, which is closest to where Markakis lives, is home through Sunday, and then goes on a six-game road trip before coming home July 1. Markakis said he doesn't feel he'll need many at-bats to get his timing back; the issue is more about the soreness in his hand subsiding enough to play every day. Normal recovery for the surgery is anywhere between three and six weeks, depending on the player.

"I have 200 at-bats under my belt right now. … I don't think timing will be an issue. I am comfortable with my bat, with my stance and everything, so it shouldn't be an issue," said Markakis, who was hitting .256 with eight homers. "It's just a matter of the soft tissue they cut through in there, just waiting for it to heal, Everybody is different."

Around the horn

Reliever Matt Lindstrom, who has a partially torn ligament in his right middle finger, threw one inning Monday for the Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota. He will throw another Wednesday and, if that goes well, will pitch for Double-A Bowie on Friday as part of his rehab assignment. Lindstrom, 32, has not pitched for the Orioles since May 10. … Right-hander Joel Pineiro (shoulder) is expected to pitch five innings against the Minnesota Twins Class-A Gulf Coast League affiliate on Tuesday. … Catcher Taylor Teagarden (back) is one to two weeks away from participating in spring training-type activities, Showalter said. … The Orioles announced the signing of three more 2012 draft picks, bringing the number to 17: RHP Nick Grim (17th round); RHP Dennis Torres (28th round) and catcher Steel Russell, the club's 32nd rounder and the son of Orioles' bench coach John Russell. … The Orioles also announced the signing of non-drafted free agent Nik Balog, a first baseman from the University of San Francisco. … Golfer Bubba Watson threw out the first pitch Monday at Citi Field.